Spearmans Rank Correlation Coefficient - CCEA

Purpose: To test the strength of the correlation (relationship) between two variables.
Equation: rs = 1 - 6d2
n3-n
Where:
rs = Spearmans Rank Value
= the sum of
d = difference in rank of the values of each matched pair
n = number of ranked pairs
Null Hypothesis: There is no statistically significant relationship between
______________ and _______________.
Alternative Hypothesis: There is a statistically significant relationship between
______________ and _______________.
2) Rank your x data, giving the largest measurement the lowest
rank. If some measurements have the same value, give them the
average of the ranks. Repeat this procedure to rank the y data.
1) Place your values for x
(independent) and y (dependent
variable) into the table.

n
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

3) Calculate the difference

between Rank x & Rank y.

Variable x
x
Rank x (Rx)

Tip: If the sum of Rx Ry = 0

then the ranking is correct

Variable y
y
Rank y (Ry)

Rx Ry = ________

difference
d (Rx-Ry)

4) Square the
difference.

difference2
d2

5) Calculate d2 = __________

Field Studies Council Derrygonnelly

6) Using the formula below, calculate Spearmans Rank Coefficient (rs).

rs = 1 - 6d2
n3-n

Critical Values Table

Degrees of
Freedom
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
15
20
25
30
40
50

0.05 (5%)

0.01 (1%)

0.88
0.83
0.80
0.77
0.72
0.68
0.64
0.60
0.57
0.50
0.47
0.44
0.39
0.35
0.31

1.00
0.96
0.91
0.87
0.84
0.80
0.77
0.74
0.71
0.65
0.59
0.54
0.48
0.43
0.38

7) Determine your degrees of freedom (n-2) and

use this number to determine your corresponding
critical value from the Critical Values Table.

Spearmans Rank Coefficient (rs) =

________________________________

Critical Value =
________________________________

If the absolute value of the Spearmans Rank Coefficient (r s) is less than the critical
value, you accept the null hypothesis.
If the absolute value of the Spearmans Rank Coefficient (r s) is greater than the critical
value, you reject the null hypothesis.
Write a sentence explaining your result. Include whether you accept or reject your
null hypothesis, the rs value, the critical value, significance level and degrees of
freedom.

Field Studies Council Derrygonnelly